Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst Volleyball team host Pitt-Johnstown for a PSAC matchup. A tough match saw UPJ come out on top 3-1 in four sets.  

How it Happened 

A kill by Paige Miller got the scoring started for the Lakers. After UPJ got out to a 4-3 lead, the Lakers added a point by way another kill by Paige Miller. That sparked a 5-0 run by the Lakers. After UPJ tied it up at nine, a service ace by Kate Hennessy gave the Lakers the lead. After some back and forth a service error by UPJ tied set one up at 19. Andrea Zaric added a kill, and Kaitlin Murphy added a service ace to give the Lakers a 22-19 lead. Both teams went back and forth and UPJ took a 25-24 lead. A kill by Kate Hennessy tied it up at 25. A kill by Paige Miller gave the Lakers a one-point lead. After UPJ tied it up, Kate Hennessy ended the first set with two kills. The Lakers took the set 28-26. 

Set two started with back-to-back kills by Maggie Thomas. UPJ found themselves with a 10-7 lead early in the second set. They were able to widen their lead, making it 15-8. The Lakers didn't go away, as they climbed back into the set, making it 17-16 in favor of UPJ. Madalynn Ward had a service ace that cut the lead to one. UPJ extended their lead once again, making it 23-18, but the Lakers rattled off three straight points to bring the set to within two. UPJ scored two of the next four points to take set two 25-23.  

UPJ got out to a 12-7 lead early in the third set. After the Lakers got the serve back, Alexa Mitchell had back-to-back service aces to cut the UPJ lead to 12-10. The Lakers went on a quick 5-3 run, capped off by a Paige Miller kill. UPJ and the Lakers went back-and-forth until the score was 21-20 in favor of UPJ. UPJ was able to score four of the next five points to take set three 25-21.  

Andrea Zaric came out firing in the fourth set with a missile of a kill. UPJ rattle off four straight points to take an early 4-1 lead. The Lakers found themselves in the lead 11-10 early in set four. UPJ took the lead by one point, but the Lakers took it right back with a service ace by Alexa Mitchell. Again, UPJ took the lead by one, but the Lakers took it right back as Andrea Zaric and Paige Miller had kills to give the Lakers the lead. UPJ got a bit of breathing room as they were up 20-17 near the end of set four. UPJ scored the last five points to win set four 25-17 and take the match 3-1.    

Highlights 

Paige Miller led the way in the kills department with eleven. Andrea Zaric was close behind with nine. Alexa Mitchell, Corinne Bechtold, and Kaitlin Murphy all added two service aces a piece. Maggie Thomas added three blocks, while Alexa Mitchell added 29 assists, and Corinne Bechtold had 17 digs.  

Next Up 

The Lakers will stay home and host Clarion for Homecoming tomorrow at 11 AM.